National Project Assistant

Details

Mission and objectives

The primary role of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is to support country-led efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The work of UNDP in 170 countries around the world is anchored in diverse and effective partnerships, which are vital to our two critical roles at country level: (a) as an integrator across policy, programmatic and organizational silos; and (b) as an operational backbone for the United Nations and other partners.Saudi Arabia is witnessing economic prosperity and progress in all domains of socio-economic development which produced tangible improvement in all human development indicators such as standard of living, health and education services, environmental conditions as well as potentials of comprehensive development. In April 2016, the Government of Saudi Arabia announced its Saudi Vision 2030 – an ambitious long-term development programme.Saudi Vision 2030 represents an ambitious blueprint with long-term goals and expectations. It is expressed in three themes of a vibrant society; a thriving economy and an ambitious nation. A review of the three themes and their underlying issues of national concern reveal a holistic approach to development that encompasses the three dimensions of sustainable development: the social, the economic and the environment.The partnership between UNDP and Saudi Arabia is covering vital sectors and areas which contributes to address the needs of Saudi society, including enhancement of the local capacity of different government institutions and support to policy making and reporting. A wide set of under the scope of technical assistance is provided in order to assist the KSA departments in their reform processes.This UNV assignment is part of UNDP’s Saudi Arabia efforts to promote volunteerism and ultimately increase the capacity to respond to the various technical assistance demands from the counterparts.

Context

In support of the realization of the ambitious Saudi Arabia and Middle East Green initiative under the Saudi Vision 2030, the National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification (NCVC) has been tasked with combating desertification, rehabilitating forest vegetation cover, protecting local endangered plant species and managing national parks. This project is designed to support NCVC in increasing necessary institutional, technical, and technological capacities to realize its mandate more effectively and efficiently. The enhanced NCVC capacity will be achieved through transforming information technology and digital capabilities, establishing cooperation and strengthening its network internationally, and promoting forest conservation practices, and increasing environmental awareness to ensure the long-term sustainability of NCVC activities at the policy level and on the ground. The project will support the achievement of the ambitious Saudi Green Initiative by designing a model of a tree nursery and seed bank with a road map for establishing a large-scale nursery facility to meet the Kingdom’s afforestation goals, along with by aligning policy and standards of tree planting and creating a mechanism to coordinate the afforestation work among different actors. These objectives will be achieved through a whole-of-society approach, in close partnership with the private sector, academia, youth, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the long-term sustainability of the activities across the project lifecycle and beyond. This project will build upon the long-standing Standard Basic Framework Agreement (SBBA) which was agreed upon between the Kingdom and the UNDP in 1975.The project expected outputs are:• Output 1: Strengthening international cooperation and network.• Output 2: Promoting conservation practices and strengthening environmental awareness via advocacy and outreach.• Output 3: Model tree nursery design and ecosystem conservation.• Output 4: Transformation of information technology and digital infrastructure.• Output 5: Strengthening institutional and technical capacity.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Digital Stream Project Manager the UN Volunteer will:1. Project Management Support:• Assist the Project Manager in developing and updating project schedules, plans, and timelines.• Help in identifying project risks and issues, and contribute to the development of mitigation and resolution strategies.• Provide support in resource allocation and management, ensuring that project resources are used efficiently andeffectively.• Assist in maintaining project management tools and systems, ensuring they provide accurate and real-time projectinformation.2. Administrative Support:• Assist in organizing and scheduling project meetings, workshops, and training sessions.• Manage project-related documentation, ensuring all necessary materials are up to date and properly filed.• Liaise with the operations team to facilitate the issuance, renewal, and management of visas and iqamas for internationalstaff or consultants.• Ensure all necessary legal and operational requirements are met for international team members' travel and stay incompliance with local regulations.3. Project Coordination:• Support the Project Manager in tracking project timelines, deliverables, and milestones.• Coordinate with different project team members to ensure seamless communication and workflow.4. Reporting:• Assist in gathering, compiling, and analyzing project data.• Support in the preparation of project progress reports, ensuring accuracy and timely submission.5. Stakeholder Engagement:• Facilitate communication with stakeholders by managing correspondences and queries.• Assist in the preparation of stakeholder meetings and compile minutes and action items from discussions.6. Procurement and Logistics:• Support the procurement process by coordinating with consultants, and vendors and managing their documents.• Assist in the logistics planning for project activities, including travel arrangements and event organization.• Coordinate with the finance department to ensure timely and accurate payment processing for vendors and consultants.• Manage and track financial transactions related to project procurement to maintain transparency and accountability.7. Quality Assurance and Compliance:• Assist in monitoring project activities to ensure compliance with organizational standards and environmental regulations.• Support the Project Manager in maintaining project management methodologies, standards, and tools.8. Team Support:• Provide administrative and logistical support to the project team.• Contribute to team-building and learning activities to enhance team performance and knowledge.